Railway-traffic-controlling apparatus



Feb. 25, 1930.

I L. E. SPRAY 1,748,804

RAILWAY TRAFFIC CONTROLLING APPARATUS Filed April 30. 1928 Fatented tea. as, 1930 LESTER E. srRAY, on wrLKrNsBnne, PENNSYLVANIA, AssreNo mo Trrn-u Io sWITor-z' & sre- AL oorrrANY, or sw ssvnnn,

PENNSYLVANIA ij,-

PENIQ'SYLVANIA, A. CORPORATION 0F RArLwA -rnarrio-conrnonnrne arrana'rus Application filedepril so,

My inventionrelates to railwaytraliic con trolling aparatus, and particularly to apparatus of the type compr sing interlockingsystems having light signals. vOne feature I i of my invention is the provision of means,

for causing a proceed lamp a calling-on group of lamps to become lighted in the event that a proceed lamp of the main group for the same signal becomes burned out when such latter proceed lamp should be lighted.

I will describe two forms of apparatus embodying my invention, and will then point out the novel features thereof in claims.

" In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a.

diagrammatic view, 'showing one formof apparatus embodying my invention. Fig. 2' is a similar View showing a modfied form of the apparatus illustrated in F 1g. 1 and also embodying my invention.

'Similar reference charactersrefer to'similar parts in'both views.

' In so far as :F ig. 1 1s concerned, mypres- 'ont case is a continuation of my co-pending application, Serial No. 140,020, filed October 7, 1926, for railway traiiic controlling ap s ra'tusg and in so far as Fig. 2 is concerned, my present case is a division of my co-pending application, Serial No. 193,794,1iled' May 24, 1927, for railway signalling;apparatus, Referring first to F1g. 1, the reference.

characters 1 and 1 designate the track rails of a railway along which trafiic normally moves 'in the direction indicated by the arrow, and

which rails are divided by insulated joints 2 to form a track section V'Vl Located; at

the entrance end or this section is an inter-v looking signal S, comprising a main group of lamps A and acalling-zon group of lamps C.

The main group A includes a clear lamp G,

a caution lamp Y, and a stop lamp R. The calling-on group C includes a caution lamp Y and a stop lamp R Although certain of these lamps have been designated as clear and caution-lamps, it is understood that each lamp G and Y of the main *group'A gives a proceed indication, and that the caution lamp -Y of the calling-on group C also givesa proceed indication, for the reason that none of these lamps when lighted requires atrain a manually operable contact L of an interiaas. Serial 160.2%,825.

' Located at the point V is ran automatic signal S ,having'a'clear lamp G a caution lamp Y and a stop lampR This automaticsignal S is controlled, in part at least, by a relay K in such manner that, when.

this relay, is energized the cautionlamp,Y

or the clear lamp G lighted',th e circuit for lamp Y being from terminalfB. of-

the source of current, through front con tact 14: of relay K, and the lamp Y to ter-' minal O of the same source of current The control of the relay K forms no part of my 1 present invention, and has, consequently, been omitted from the drawing, and thesame thing 7 v.

The track sectionfV-WV is provided with a track circuit comprising a battery 3 con- 7 is true of the clearlamp' G nected across the rails at the exit end of the 7 section and a track rela l connectedacross the rails at the entrance endof the section.

The lanips of the main group Ain the interlocking signal S are controlled by a main relay H' and a distant relay 1). The main relay H is controlled by track relay 4 and by locking machine. The distant relay 1) is in turn is governed by the condition ofthe clear and caution lamps G and Yer". the main group A in signal S;

controlled by the main relay H and also by relay K for signal S As shown inxthefdrawing, all relays-'H,D,

E and F are de-energized. The stop lamp R in group A is lightedby virtue of a circuit which passes from terminal B of a source of current, through back contact 6-6" of relay H, and the stop lamp Roi group A, to terminal() of the same source'of current. The

stop lamp R of group C is lighted by virtue of a circuit which passes from ter-- minal B of a'sou'rceof current, through back contact 1313 of the calling-on relay F,

and p 11 ermina O oi the was series ofcurrent. a

the contact L, thereby energizing the main relay H, the circuit for this relay being from termlnal B of a source of current, through Contact L, front contact 5 of track relay l,

and the winding of relay H to terminal 0 of the same source of current. Distant relay D then becomes energized, its circuit being from terminal B of a source of current, through front contact 15 of relay K, winding of relay D and front contact 11 of main relay H to terminal 0 of the same source of current. The clear lamp G of group A will then become lighted, the circuit for this lamp being from .terminal B of a source of current, through front contact 66 of main relay H, winding of light-out relay E, front contact 7.7 of distant relay D, and lamp G to terminal O of the same source of current. If

relay K at signal S is (ls-energized, the distant relay D will, likewise remain de-energized, and in that event the caution lamp Y of group A will be lighted, the circuit for this lamp being from terminal B, through front contact 6--6 of relay H, winding of light-out relay E, back contact 77 of distant relay D, and lamp Y to terminal 0 of the same source of current.

When the train enters section VVV it will de-energize track relay 4, thereby opening the circuit for main relay H at contact 5, whereupon the lamp G or Y of group A will be extinguished and .the stop lamp R of this group will become lighted. If the operator desires to admit a second train to the section VWV while the first train is still in this section, he closes the calling-011i? contact P, whereupon the calling-on relay F becomes energized, the circuit for this relay being from terminal B, through contact L, contact P, back contact 9 -9 of main relay H, and winding of'relay F to terminal O. The stop lamp R of the calling-on group C is then extinguished and the caution lamp Y of this group is lighted, the circuit for lamp Y being from terminal B, through front contact 13-13 of relay F and lamp Y to terminalO.

I will now assume that contact L is closed and that track relay 4 is energized, so that the main relay H is energized, and that distant relay D is energized, but that lamp G, which should be lighted, is burned out. Light-out relay E will then :be de-energized, and an auxiliary circuit will therefore he closed for the calling-on relay F, which tire-nit is from terminal B, through front contactifififi of relay H, back contact '12 of relay :E, front .contact 9 .9 of relay H, and winding of relay F to terminal 0. This will cause the calling-on relay F-to become ,energiaed, so that stop lamp B will :be extinguished and the caution lamp "Y will be come lighted. At the same time the stop lamp R ofgroup A will become lighted by vir- It will thus be seen that when lamp G of group A should'be lighted but is burned out, the caution lamp Y of group C will be lighted to permit a train to proceed. l/Vith the arrangement of circuits heretofore used, the indication given by signal S in the event of the burning out of lamp G when this lamp should be lighted, would be two lighted stop lamps R and R which would require a train to stop; whereas with circuits embodying my invention, if the lamp G is burned out'when it should be lighted, a train is permitted to keep moving by virtue of the restrictive proceed indication given by lamp Y of the calling-on group C.

If the main relay H is energized and the distant relay D is de-energized, so that cantion lamp Y should be lighted, and if this lamp is burned out, relay B will be de-energized as before, thereby causing callingon relay F to be energizedywith the result that lamp Y is lighted.

Referring now to Figure 2, relays E and H are controlled as in Figure 1. The distant relay D is, however, controlled by a contact 10 of a track relay 4* for the track section next in advance of point lV. The callingon relay F is at times responsive to the condition of lamp R of themain group A and is otherwise controlled as in Figure 1.

As shown in the drawing, relays H and F are de-energized, so that lamps R and R are lighted. The circuit for lamp R is from terminal B of a source of current, through back contact 66 of relay H, and lamp R to terminal O of the same source of current. The circuit for lamp R is from terminal B, through back contact 13-13 of relay F and lamp R to terminal 0.

'I will now assume that relay D is energized and that contact L is closed. Current then flowsfrom terminal B through contact L, front contact 5 of track relay 4L and the winding of relay H to terminal O. Relay H therefore becomes energized, so that the circuit for stop lamp R is opened at .the back contact 66 of this relay. The proceed lamp .G then becomes lighted, the circuit being from terminal B, through front contact 66* of relay H, winding .of relay E,

front contact 7-7 of relay D and lamp G :to terminal 0. If relay D is Clo-energized,

lamp Y will become lighted instead of lamp (:r, the circuit for lamp Y then including front contact 66 of relay H, the winding of relay E and'back.contact'F-T of relay D.

I will now assume that track relay 4 is de energized and that the operator closes both CQIltACts L and P, Calling-on relay F will then become energized, the circu t being from vthe proceed lamp G is burned out. jRelay'E will then be de-energized, and stop lamp R will then be lighted by virtue of a circuit whichpasses from terminal B through front contact 66" of relay H, front contact 8; of relay H, back contact 12 of relay E, Winding of relay F, front contact .99 of relay H and stop lamp R to terminal 0. Relay F will then be energized, so that lamp Y o-f main group of lamps having a proceed lamp, and a calling-on group having a proceed the callingpn group G will be lighted. Signal S will then give the calling-on indication. The same thing is true if relay H is energized and relay D is de-energized, and the caution lamp Y, which should then be lighted, is burned out. Furthermore, assum-' .iiig that-relay H is-energized and that the lamp G or'Y which should be lighted'is burned out, and that the stop lamp Rof group A is also burned out, it will-be observed that relay'F Willbe de-energizedjso that the stop lamp R of group C will be lighted and the caution lamp Y of this group will 7 be extinguished. This prevents the possibility of lamp Y being the only lamp in thesignal Which is lighted. It is, of course, understood that if lamp Y were lighted Wli-en'lamp R were extinguished, the signal Would give a full cautionindication instead of a callingori indication. Although I have Having thus described my invention, What 1 I claim is:

'1. In combination, a signal comprising a 7 main groupjof lamps having a proceed lamp,

, and a calling-on grpup liavinga'proceed lamp; a main relay and a calling-onf relay, a circuit for the proceed lampfof the main group including a front contact of said main relay, agcircuit for the proceed lamp of the calling-on group including a front contact of said calling-on relay, a normal circuit for said calling-on relay including a back contact of said main relay, a light-out relay 'in series with the proceed lamp of said main group, and an auxiliary circuit for said calling-on' relay including a front contact of said main relay and a back contact of said light-out relay. 7 1

2, In combination, a signal comprising a light-out relay.

herein shown and de-' scribed only two forms of apparatus e m-. bodying my nvention, it is understood that main group of lamps having a proceed lamp,

and a calling-on -grouphaving aproceed lamp; a'main relay andafcalling-on relay, acontroll ng circuit for said main relay ineluding acontact of an interlocking machine and a track relay contact, a'circuit for the ing-on relayincluding a back contact of.

said main relay anda calling-on circuit controller an d said interlocking machmecontact, and an auxiliary circuit for said-callin -on rela 1 includin a frontcontact of 3 said main relay and aback contact of said 3. In combination, a-signal comprising a lamp; a main relay and'a calling-on relay,

group including, a front contact of said main relay, a circuit forthe proceed lamp of the calling-on group including a front contactof saidfcalling-on relay, normal means for proceed lamp of said main group is burned out. I i i 4. In combination, a signal comprising a main group of lamps having a proceedlamp,

a circuit=for the proceed lamp of the main and a calling-on group havinga proceed *lam 3' a'main rela anda callin -on rela a circuit for. the proceed lamp of the main I group i icluding a front contact of said main relay, acircuit for theproceed lamp of the calling-on group includ ng a front contact of said calling-on relay, normal means for energizing said calling-on relayvvhen said main relay is de-energized, a light-out relay in series With the proceed lamp of said main group, and auxiliary means for energizing said ,calling-on relay when sa d main relay energized.

5'. In combination, a signal comprising a main group of lamps havinga stop and 'a proceedlamp,and; a calling-011 group having a stop and a proceed lamp ainain relay and a calling-on relay forlcontrolling said main group and said calling-on group respective ly, and meansfor energizing said calling-on having a proceed lamp; a'mainrelay, a distaint re y, and a-calling-on relay, a con vis'energized and said light-out relay is detrolling circuit for said main relay including an interlocking machine contact and a track relay contact, a circuit for said distant relay controlled by said main relayand by traffic conditions in advance, a normal circuit for said calling-on relay including a back contact of said main relay and a calling-on circuit controller and said interlocking machine contact, a circuit for the clear lamp of the main group including a front contact of said main relay and a front contact of said distant relay, a circuit for the caution lamp of said main group including a front contact of the main relay and a back contact of the distant relay, a circuit for the proceed lamp of the calling-on group including a front contact of said calling-on relay, a light-out relay in series With both the clear and the caution lamps of said main group, and an auX- iliary circuit for said calling-on relay including a front contact of said main relay and a back Contact of said light-out relay..

7. In combination, a signal comprising a main group of lamps having a stop lamp, a caution lamp and a clear lamp, and a call ing-on group having a proceed lamp; a main relay, a distant relay, and a calling-on relay, a controlling circuit for said main relay including an interlocking machine contact and a track relay contact, a circuit for said distant relay controlled by said main relay and by traflic conditions in advance, a normal circuit for said calling-on relay including a back contact of said main relay and a calling-on circuit controller and said interlocking machine contact, a circuit for the said clear lamp of the main group including a front contact of said main relay and a front contact of said distant relay, a circuit for the caution lamp of said main group including a front contact of the main relay and a back con tact of the distant relay, a circuit for the proceed lamp of the calling-011 group including a front contact of said calling-on relay, a lightout relay in series with a proceed lamp of said main group, an auxiliary circuit for said calling-on relay including a front contactof said main relay and a back contact of said light-out relay, a normal circuit for the stop lamp of said main group including aback contact of said main relay,

and an auxiliary circuit for the stop lamp of saidinain group including a front contact ofsaid main relay and a back contact of said light-out relay.

8. In combination, a railway signal having proceed, caution and stop lamps,c ontr0lling means for selectively lighting saidlamps, and means for lighting said stop lamp when said controlling means is in condition tolight either said proceedor said caution lamp and the lamp which should then be lighted is burned out.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

LESTER n. SPRAY. 

